The Immortal Story Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: The Immortal Story
Year: 1968
Director: Orson Welles
Country: France
Language: French

Orson Welles: Genius, creator, madman. His very name gets a reaction from anybody who is associated with film. Known for broadcasting "War of the Worlds" on the radio and his controversial classic Citizen Kane, Welles had a magnificent career full of absolutely stunning films. An overlooked creation of the great man seems to be The Immortal Story (1968). While it is not as well known as his other works, I assure you it is just as great.

In the Portuguese colony of Macao in the 19th century. Mr. Clay(Welles)  is a very rich merchant and the subject of town gossip. He likes his clerk Levinsky to read the company's accounts to him at night for relaxation. Tonight Mr. Clay recounts a true story he heard years before about a rich man who paid a poor sailor 5 guineas to father a child with his beautiful young wife. Levinsky says that's a popular old sailor's legend and not true.  He resolves to make the story true. 

The Immortal Story is remarkably Wellesian and in some ways will remind its audience of Citizen Kane. Both are essentially about old men who have amassed great wealth at the unfortunate expense of an emotional life. It paints the idea of the author as repressive God-like figure, forcing the characters to conform to his will. Clay is certainly a dominant and controlling man; while re-enacting a story can seem to be a creative display, Clay is anything but an artist. Though he desires what many other artists desire: Immortality.

 In every Welles film there is great cinematography and lighting, this is no exception. Even the dark lonely lighting in Clay's house appear to be a window into his fractured soul. Being the Director's first non black and white film, it appears that Welles knows how to use color to evoke great emotion and add to the film's great storytelling. Each character has a rather tragic story, but is wonderfully acted. Perhaps the only flaw in this film is that though it is set in the Macao, it is a remarkably European film.

In conclusion, though The Immortal Story is a bit slow paced even for a Welles film and was too literary to be a commercial success, Orson Welles delivers a stunning success once again. I've seen many of his films and I can easily say that this is my second favourite behind Citizen Kane. Thought provoking and entertaining, it is a definite must see. Praise it! 4.5/5